Parkland's New Jaycees Chapter Cuts Fee To Join

So the district director of the local Junior Chamber of Commerce pitched his organization to 60 to 80 area businesses. The result: Parkland now has its own Jaycee chapter, the 29th in the Broward and Palm Beach county district.

"I was really surprised at the great response," Fischer said. "The response I got was, Parkland needs an organization like this."

The Jaycees group is made up of people ages 21 to 40. Like other civic groups such as the Lions or Elks clubs, members hold fund-raisers, donate to charities and engage in community boosterism.

"We raise money for all different sorts of charities, whatever charity the chapter decides on," Fischer said. "We don't limit ourselves to a single charity."

The Parkland chapter is the first new one to be formed in this Jaycee year, which began May 1. It will serve Parkland, Coconut Creek north of the Sawgrass Expressway and the Sandalfoot community in unincorporated Palm Beach County.

Fischer said during his drive to create the chapter, he collected about $600 in corporate affiliations and membership dues. But while that's a respectable start-up budget, more is needed, including personnel.

"What we really need now is new members," he said.

So Fischer is offering half-price membership discounts through the end of this month. It will cost $25 for an individual to join. Corporate membership costs have been slashed by $100. Until August, depending on the type of membership, a corporation can join for $75 to $200.

While the chapter now boasts about 20 members, Fischer hopes the ranks will swell to 60 by next year.

"Of course, the organization won't have much money to start with, so we will have to hold some fund-raisers right away," Fischer said.

The group's first meeting, open to the public, will be Monday at the Wing City Restaurant, 6588 North State Road 7 in Coconut Creek. More information is available by calling Fischer at 340-1891.